Regulator valve



Aug. 25, 1953 o. LAMB 2,649,661

REGULATGR VALVE Fild Aug. 5, 1946 INVENTOR. 0220 Zar/I.

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Patented Aug. 25;, 1.95.3

RE GULATOR VALVE Ollo Lamb, St. Louis, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application August 3, 1946, Serial No. 688,197

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to a pressure regulator adapted for interpositon between high and low pressure chambers.

An object of the invention is to provide a regulator valve of durable and inexpensive construction which is comparatively simple and compact and adapted for interposition between a high pressure gas bulb and a gas receiving device of any character such as a pressure sprayer of the type shown in the copending application of William B. Kochner and myself, Serial No. 22,118 filed April 20, 1948.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressure regulator which permits a controlled ow of high pressure gas from a CO2 bulb or the like to a chamber wherein the pressure is regulated to a value somewhat less than the initial pressure in the bulb, so that a substantially constant pressure can be maintained for the pressure sprayer or other apparatus that utilizes the pressure from the bulb.

Still another object is to provide a pressure regulator including a diaphragm on which reverse pressure operates to close a gas admission valve when the pressure on the diaphragm exceeds a predetermined value, a sealed chamber being provided under the diaphragm in opposition to the reversed pressure for returning the diaphragm when the pressure lowers, thereby admitting additional gas.

A further object is to provide a pressure regulator in the form of an assembly of diaphragm and valve retained in position by a closure plug that carries the valve seat, the plug being adjustable for varying the operating pressure of the regulator valve.

Still a further object is to provide a regulator valve composed of a small number of parts which are easily formed in automatic machinery and which can be readily assembled in a minimum of time, the device after assembly being readily adjustable to change the operating point.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a regulator valve embodying my present invention and showing a bulb holder associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to Figure 1 showing the parts in a different position.

On the accompanying drawings, I have used 2 the reference numeral I0 to indicate a body member which has a space l2 therein that may be termed a regulated pressure chamber.

A bulb holder I4 is associated with the body vmember Ill, a connecting member or plug I6 being provided for connecting the two together. Thek exterior of the connecting member I6 is threaded and the interior of the body I as well as the bulb holder I4 is tapped for threaded coaction therewith. vThe connecting member IB is normally retained rigidly in the body member It by means of a set screw I8.

The connecting member I6 supports a combined piercing pin and valve seat member Z, the lower end being sharpened for piercing the top wall 22' of a gas bulb B. The upper end is faced 0H to serve as a valve seat in conjunction with a valve cap 24. The member 20 is retained in position by a's'plit washer 2t soldered in a groove o'f the tube 2li and to the member I6. The element 2U is also staked in position adjacent its upper end as indicated at 28.

Within a recess 30 of the member I6, a sealing sleeve 32 of neoprene or the like is held in position by a tubular bushing 34. The sleeve 32 is adapted to seal around the neck of the bulb B, when the bulb is forced into the sleeve by the Vholder I4.

Above the member I6 provi-de the following elements that constitute the rest of my regulator valve: a gasket 3B, a metal washer 38, a disc 40,

.a diaphragm disc 42, a diaphragm 44 and a metal washer 4t. Interposed between the washer 38 and the disc 4i] are three springs 48 located in socketsl 59 of the disc 4i). The springs compress the gasket 36 and compress the marginal edge of the diaphragm 44 between the diaphragm disc 42 and the washer 46. The washer is seated against a shoulder in the form of the lower surfaces of Vsix lugs 52 formed inthe body I0 and is centered by a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs 54.

Below the diaphragm 44 is a chamber't within the diaphragm disc 42. Within this chamber a disc 58 is located and the dise has a. hub '69 receiving the upper end of la valve stem i62. The lower end of the valve stem has the valve vcap 24 mounted on it after passing through a resilient packing B4. The packing is located in the disc 40 and confined therein by the diaphragm disc 42.

aphragm 44 to depress it to the position shown in this figure for closing the valve. The closure will be eiecte'd at a predetermined pressure within the chamber I2 depending on the adjustment of the connecting member I6 in relation to the body member I0, in opposition-IfoV air compressed in the chamber 56, this being a;

dead air chamber closed off by the diaphragm and by the packing 64. ,Y

Whenever there is a reduction -oi pressure 'in the chamber I2 due to gas being used there-- from, the pressure of air in the chamber '6 aided by the pressure of gas through the tube 2i) against the valve cap 24 will open the 'valve at 2li-24 for admitting additional gas to the chamber I2. Thiswill continue until the predetermined regulated pressure has been reached thereby 'depressing the 'diaphragm 44 again 'to the position of Figure 4.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have provided a very simple lpressure regulating valve made of few Iparts capable of manufacture in small sizes, the patent drawings showing an enlargement of the actual device in order to show details more clearly. The regulator valve itself isbut little larger in diameter than an ordinary CO2 bulb and can thus be readily contained within a housing such as I Il that is approximately the same size .as the ordinary type of bulb holder I4.

The springs 48 effectively seal the interior of the body member I0 from atmosphere at the gasket 36 and at the isame time effectively seal the periphery of the diaphragm '44 against leakage between the chambers I 2 and 56. The packing y64 seals the chamber 56 with respect to the interior of the body member I0.

I have found that the Yarrangement ldisclosed utilizing a chamber '56 'eliminates the necessity of having a spring in opposition to the low side pressure on the top of the diaphragm '44, thus simplifying the construction considerably. At the same time the regulator is readily adjusted by rotating the connecting member I 6 in relation to the body I0. This rotation can be effected while the ybulb is in the position of Figure ure 4 as at that time the pressure between the threads of the bulb holder I4 and the connecting member I6 is ample to lock the two together and provide for such rotation. When the regulator has been set to the desired pressure, the connecting member IB may be locked by tightening the set screw I8.

`Some changes may be made in the construction and Varrangement Vof the Aparts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims 'any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I cla-im as my invention:

1. In a, pressure regulator -of the Avclass described, a body member open 'at one 'end and having anoutlet at its lother end, a shoulder in said .body member adjacent said outlet, a diaphragm against said shoulder, a gas pressure chamber forming element against said diaphragm, spring means vengagir'ig said chamber forming member, a followerffr said lspring means, a gasket 'e`n'- gaging said 'followen a plug in the "open 'e'nd o'f 'said body 'member and engaging "said gasket, 'a A:diaphragm follower in v`said/chamber forming member, la -stein projecting therefrom and through 4` said chamber forihing imi-Ember, ine'ans lfor sealing said -sii relative to -Said 'chamber -forming "mem-ber, a valve member on 4said 'stem 4 outside of said means for sealing, a Valve seat carried by said plug and adapted to be engaged by said lvalve member, and `rmeans for bypassing gas from said valve seat `around said chamber forming member and said diaphragm past Asaid shoulder to said outlet, the pressure in said outlet acting on said diaphragm in opposition to the gas trapped in said pressure forming chamber, the foregoing elements operating to vreduce the flow and regulate the pressure of gas supplied to said plug and discharged from said outlet with the pressure of trapped air in said chamber forming member opposing pressure of fgafs 'in said outlet on said diaphragm and tending to open said valve when the outlet pressure -on said Vdiaphragm reduces below a predetermined minimum. -A

2. In a pressure regulator of the class described, a bod-y member open at one end and having an outlet lat its other end, a shoulder in said body member adjacent said outlet, a diaphragm against said shoulder, a gas pressure chamber forming element against said d-iaphragm, spring means engaging said chamber forming member, a follower for said spring means, a rgasket engaging said follower, 'a plug in the open end 'of said body -member and engaging said gasket, a diaphragm 'follower YVin said cha'rnlr'er forming member, a stem projecting therefrom and through said 'chamber `forming member, `means for sealing said stern relative to said chamber 'forming member, a valve member 4on said stem outside oi lsaid 'means for sealing, a valve seat 'earned 'by said 'plug anu adapted to be engaged by said valve member, means roi 'bypassing gas 'from 'saidl 'valve lseat 'around 'sai-'d kchamber forming member 'anu said 'diaphragm past said shoulder to said 'oi1't1et, thepres'su're in said outlet acting 'on 'said diaphragm in pposition 'to the gast'rapped nj'saiu pressure forming chamber, the 'foregoing elements operating 'to reduce 'the :w 'and regulate "the fpie'ss'ure f .gas supplied I1:6 said plug and discharged "from salu outlet With the pressure of 'trapped 'air 'in 'said `eli'alnber forming member 'opposing pressure 'f lgas. in said outlet on said diaphragm`-and tending tov 'ipen said vali/'e 'when the "cutie-t pressure on said diaphragm reduces v10e-iowa predetermined minimum, said 'plug being mvabl'e in 'said muy member to pred'etermine :the operating "pressure 'of said yregulator bythe 'relative positions "of 'said valve seat and said valve member, and means "for locking said plug against movement.

LLLOILAMB.

References 'Cites 'in me fue 'or this-.patent 

